"Democratic groups have created an operation that combines close coordination with a division of labor designed to avoid duplication of effort and maximize resources." The other four allied groups are the Thunder Road Group, which "will concentrate on research and rapid response"; the Media Fund, "the principal vehicle for pro-Democratic television commercials by the coalition"; America Votes, "the umbrella organization that will stitch together the activities of various progressive organizations"; and Joint Victory Campaign 2004, "a combined fundraising committee." [2]

Contents

FEC fine

In August 2007, the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) fined ACT $775,000, for having "violated election law by funding too much of its activity with money raised outside federal restrictions," reported The Hill. The fine was the largest ever levied against a 527 group. [3]

An FEC statement explained, "For most of the 2004 election cycle, ACT used an allocation ratio of 2 percent federal funds and 98 percent non-federal funds for its administrative expenses and generic voter drives. ... ACT was required to use a substantially higher proportion of federal funds." The Hill reported, "ACT and other 527 groups have eschewed spending so-called federal funds because they must be raised in limited increments. Non-federal funds, also known as soft money, are much easier to generate because they can be collected in unlimited amounts." [4]

History

In August 2003, hedge fund investor and philanthropist George Soros announced he would donate $10 million to ensure that Bush was not re-elected. [5] The initial newstories indicated that the PAC would be named America Coming Together and would campaign in 17 key states.

In a statement announcing the grants, Soros stated "The fate of the world depends on the United States and President Bush is leading us in the wrong direction. ACT is an effective way to mobilize civil society, to convince people to go to the polls and vote for candidates who will reassert the values of the greatest open society in the world."

Feminist Daily News Wire reported that the group would form a coalition comprising women's rights, labor, and environmental groups and aimed to raise $75 million by the November election. [7]

According to the March 10, 2004, Washington Post, "The Democratic 527 organizations have drawn support from some wealthy liberals determined to defeat Bush. They include financier George Soros and his wife, Susan Weber Soros, who gave $5 million to ACT and $1.46 million to MoveOn.org; Peter B. Lewis, chief executive of the Progressive Corp., who gave $3 million to ACT and $500,000 to MoveOn; and Linda Pritzker, of the Hyatt hotel family, and her Sustainable World Corp., who gave $4 million to the joint fundraising committee." [8]